St Edmund's CofE (C) Primary & Nursery School

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 6 January 2026

In this school every pupil feels welcomed, cared for, safe and that they belong. This is largely due to the warm, compassionate relationships that staff develop with pupils as a priority. Pupils are eager to arrive each morning. They appreciate a 'high 5' from leaders at the gate. The school has high expectations for pupils' behaviour and staff support pupils well with consistent routines. Pupils are very polite and friendly. They do their best to follow the school's 'Sixcess' values which they know by heart. Playtimes are happy as pupils respect each other and get on well. Unkindness or hurtful behaviour, such as bullying, is generally rare. If it does happen, staff deal with it quickly and effectively. Pupils enjoy learning and feel teachers make their lessons fun. Teachers typically teach the school's ambitious and engaging curriculum well. As a result, pupils reach the standards expected for their age overall. Leaders and staff want every pupil to feel included and that they can achieve well. They are improving the systems to identify pupils with barriers to learning more quickly. However, these improvements are in their infancy, which means these pupils sometimes do not get precisely the right support at the right time. Leaders want children to get off to the best start with their schooling. Staff settle children well into the early years and provide a nurturing environment. However, children's development is not as well catered for as it should be. Leaders are still in the early stages of implementing improvements in this provision. The school supports pupils' broader development well. For example, pupils learn to be responsible members of their school community. They enjoy a range of activities that help develop their talents and interests, such as arts, craft and sports clubs, or taking part in performances or a sports team.

What the school should improve

• Leaders should complete and embed the new systems and processes that support inclusion, and communicate their pupil premium strategy effectively, to ensure that pupils get the right support quickly to overcome their barriers to learning.
• Leaders should embed the recent improvements in the early years provision and ensure staff deliver the curriculum consistently well so that children are well prepared for their next stage of education.
• Leaders should ensure staff make more effective use of assessment information to adapt the curriculum and teaching, ensuring they quickly address any gaps in knowledge, and they deepen pupils' learning.
• Leaders should analyse and evaluate the effectiveness and impact of the school's work, particularly on vulnerable groups of pupils, more astutely to ensure sustained and rapid school improvement.

Read the full Ofsted report (opens in a new tab)